Renishaw, a worldwide provider of measuring and [additive] manufacturing methods, has appointed Professor Karen Holford as a brand new Non-executive Director of the corporate. She joined the Board of Administrators of the FTSE 250 firm on 1 September 2023, the place she’s going to contribute over 43 years of experience within the engineering sector. Professor Holford, who’s Chief Government and Vice-Chancellor at Cranfield College, may even be a part of Renishaw’s Audit, Nomination, and Remuneration Committees. In addition to her in depth engineering, technical administration, and governance expertise, Professor Holford has beforehand helped to handle an absence of range in organizations by difficult perceptions and dealing with underrepresented teams.
Professor Holford started her engineering profession at Rolls Royce as an Undergraduate Apprentice, graduating from Cardiff College with a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering. She returned to academia to pursue a ardour for analysis, gaining a PhD in Supplies Science/Acoustic Emission. She continued her curiosity in analysis and improvement in {industry} at AB Digital Merchandise, ultimately turning into a senior engineer main a big mechanical design workforce. This function gave Holford hands-on expertise in quite a lot of engineering functions.
Professor Holford then returned to academia – specializing in industry-led educating, analysis and improvement, and progressing to Professor of Mechanical Engineering. She served in management roles similar to Head of the Faculty of Engineering, Professional Vice-Chancellor of Bodily Sciences and Engineering, and spent 5 years as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff College, earlier than taking on her present place at Cranfield College. Holford is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and was named as one of many 50 most influential ladies engineers in 2016. In 2017 she acquired a CBE for companies to engineering and the development of girls in engineering.
“We’re delighted to welcome Karen to the Board,” stated Sir David McMurtry, Government Chairman at Renishaw. “She has a wealth of engineering and R&D expertise, bringing very important abilities to the enterprise.”